ramming question

[jab2565]

One thing I never tried was using the ramming ability of certain ships, like the garthian cruiser. So because it can ram, does that mean it takes less damage when going into other ships?

[Arralen]

Yes!

[nihilix]

But make sure you're on true when ramming - the pointy part doing all the work. If you collide from the side, you can have some problems!

I've also had apparently dead-on ramming attacks tweak to the side at the last minute - very distressing.

Best is from the behind (up the drive chute!) in the direction of enemy's travel. That's why the Garthan gets the best thruster as well as the best shield.

[James Sterrett]

A cloaked, speedy, well-shielded Garthan Bloodfang is inredibly deadly. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Suicide Junkie]

Perhaps the engines should be given a short range plasma "flame"thrower weapon effect.

[ooheadsoo]

I just bought the game but have been playing the demo. Why is it that if I ram someone while cloaked, they always ram me back even while I am cloaked. As a result, unless I have some really good thrusters, I will die unless there's only 1 or 2 large ships.

[Arralen]

Maybe they ram you because you are cloaked? I mean - how should they know where not to go (fly, drift, whatever) ?

[ooheadsoo]

That's what I thought happened the first two times I tried it. After a while, it seems to me that they're deliberately turning into me and ramming me up my chute, if you know what I'm saying. It doesn't seem random, and it's never head on, always flanking me or from the rear.

[Psitticine]

Perhaps they are homing in on your drive emissions? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[ooheadsoo]

Sure thing...as long as I can home in on theirs, too, given the right equipment http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[ZylonBane]

Something that's been driving me insane is that, if I'm trying to ram a ship, but there are any other ships nearby, my ship's AI will start flopping around randomly in an attempt to get away from the other ship instead of staying on target.

The close-combat ship AI is hopelessly broken, IMHO. I'm not shelling out for the full version until they add a "Do exactly what I say, not what your crazy little AI brain thinks I meant to say" configuration option.

[Ripcord O'Reilly]

Imagine a circle around the ship that is the ship's diameter. In fact, that is a ship's bounding area and if they bump, your ship's "navigator" (AI) will attempt to turn away from a collision (as will other ships of course).

The exception is when you select to ram, but the rule still applies if any other ships are really close.

[Phoenix-D]

I think we've all gotten that part.

Its still quite annoying, especially since the AI doesn't seem to have anywhere near as many problems.

An AI ship and mine are charging head-on, firing. Neither is set to ram. My ship turns away *first* the AI just comes to a stop and hammers me into the ground..

[Davin]

Hi, new user here. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Phoenix-D, I noticed the same behavior in the demo. What I eventually decided on is that the best way to rectify this problem is to play chicken with your opponent. Set your ship to RAM, once the enemy is within firing range your weapons will of course light him up. If you're still approaching at full speed at a certain distance, the other ship WILL turn. You just have to be ready to switch back into ATTACK mode or else you'll just careen right into him.